The Second City Announces Auditions For New Resident Teen Troupe

CHICAGO, May 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Second City is proud to announce auditions for its first resident teen company on June 1 and 2, 2012. Open to 13 to 17 year olds, this company will have a regular weekly performance spot at The Second City. The new teen troupe will be sponsored in part by The Mash, Chicago Tribune's teenage media brand.

Teen Troupe Auditions will be held on Friday, June 1 (4:00 - 6:00pm) and Saturday, June 2, 2012 (10:00am - 5:00pm). Call backs to these auditions will be announced at a later date.  Anyone in the age range of 13 - 17 may audition. The audition itself will primarily be made up of improvisation.

"In the past five years we've seen tremendous growth and incredible talent coming out of our youth classes and summer camps," says The Second City's CEO/Executive Producer Andrew Alexander. "It seemed only fitting that we provide more resources to these talented teens and a regular stage to share their unique voices."

Interested teens are invited to email a current picture (head shot if available) and your contact information (full name, age, email address and phone number - or a proper resume) ON THURSDAY, MAY 17 - 20 to: [email protected]  Subject line: Teen Troupe.  Please note space is limited so we may not be able to accommodate all applicants. A waiting list will be taken.

The Mash - Chicago Tribune's teenage newspaper and journalism program - will help The Second City encourage Chicago youth to suggest creative names for the new company. The Chicago-wide contest to name the new company will launch in The Mash newspaper and on TheMash.com on May 17th. The contest is open to teens only, ending June 10th, and prizes include The Second City comedy packages, tickets, cash, and a congratulatory ad in the newspaper. 

"The Mash is thrilled to partner with The Second City to help rally Chicago teens around this launch," says Mash General Manager, Maggie Wartik. "There's no better way to empower kids through creative expression than by putting the name itself into their hands, allowing them to be part of the artistic process.  The Second City's newest venture is especially exciting for us."

The Second City Training Center offers classes, workshops and camps for students ages 4-18, in improv, comedy writing, acting, music improv, physical comedy and video. During the summer months, The Second City hosts over 700 teens from all over the world for 2 week camps focusing on sketch and improv. The Second City is currently registering for summer camps which will run from June 11-August 31. Call 312-664-3959 for information.

About The Second City

Beginning as a small cabaret theatre on Chicago's north side in 1959, The Second City has grown to become a comedy empire – building a robust business based on its core improvisational methodologies. Resident theatres in Chicago and Toronto create topical sketch comedy revues that satirize politics, culture and news of the day.  Beyond its stages, The Second City created the foremost school of improvisation-based arts in the world – with training facilities in Chicago, Toronto and Los Angeles that currently enroll over 11,000 students annually; a corporate division that works with hundreds of Fortune 500 companies in areas of training, marketing, entertainment and brand services; and The Second City's forays into television and new media include the classic, Emmy-award winning comedy series SCTV and continues to produce new content and programming originating from The Second City Entertainment's offices in Los Angeles including most recently I, Martin Short, Goes Home.  

About The Mash

Funded by the Chicago Tribune Media Group, The Mash pays and trains student journalists to develop and produce appealing, age-appropriate content, delivered to and available only on high school campuses every week during the school year. Chicago Tribune Media Group is a media and business services company that publishes the Pulitzer Prize-winning Chicago Tribune.  CTMG also produces related print and interactive media serving Chicagoland like RedEye, Hoy, Chicago Magazine, Naperville Magazine, TribLocal, The Mash, chicagonow.com and metromix.com. 

SOURCE The Mash